Whereas community leadership, political leadership, and faculty at LSUHSC‐Shreveport have serious concerns about potential organizational changes to LSUHSC‐Shreveport described in the proposed LSU One reorganization plan;
Whereas community leadership, political leadership, and faculty at LSUHSC Shreveport united in a successful effort in 2003 in support of a significant reorganization effort by the
LSU Board of Supervisors involving the development of a Chancellor position at LSUHSC‐
Shreveport that directly reports to the LSU system President;
Whereas the current draft reorganization proposed in October 2012 AGB report would be a return to a governance system that failed LSUHSC‐Shreveport in its first 30 years;
Whereas the previous governance system with its cumbersome review and approval process hampered LSUHSC‐ Shreveport’s ability to make and execute key decisions and invest in improvement efforts;
Whereas the aforementioned groups have noted increased investment and positive outcomes at LSUHSC‐ Shreveport with the institution of a Chancellor position that directly reports to the LSU System President;
Whereas local authority and autonomy under the current governance system promote greater efficiency, effectiveness, flexibility, and speed in decision making;
Whereas lack of local autonomy and authority lowers morale and increases uncertainty at
LSU Health in Shreveport and leads to significant concern about successful attraction and retention of administration, faculty members, researchers, and students;
Whereas the current proposed changes in governance could significantly impact the accreditation process of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Committee of
Colleges (SACS) as well as the other accrediting authorities specific to the medical school
(ACGME) and teaching hospital (Joint Commission) scheduled in the next year at LSU
Health‐Shreveport;
Whereas it is unclear the restructuring proposal will result in significant cost savings although these savings are stated to be an important factor driving the reorganization effort;
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400 Edwards St., Shreveport, LA 71101 318.677.2503

Whereas the current bottom up approach to collaboration and coordination is best suited to the development of academic medical centers and provides cost savings in comparison to the proposed top down administrative approach highlighted by the AGB report;
Whereas the first three principles of an ideal system outlined in the October 2012 AGB report of “giving each institution the autonomy required to meet their own potential”;
“treatment of member institutions as clients”; and “support of member institutions as judged by them” are of primary importance in building greater components in the LSU
System and are potentially compromised in the current LSU One reorganization proposal;
Whereas LSUHSC in Shreveport is a foundation for economic development and healthcare in North and Central Louisiana, attracting highly educated people to the community and contributing nearly one billion dollars annually to the economy;
Whereas anything that weakens LSUHSC‐Shreveport – such as diminishing local authority – weakens our community, the LSU system, and the state as a whole;
Therefore be it resolved the Shreveport Bossier Business Alliance for Higher Education
(SBBA) asks the LSU One Transition Advisory Group, LSU Board of Supervisors and the
Interim LSU System President and Chancellor of LSU A&M to defer final decisions about
LSU restructuring (or at least the aspects pertaining to LSUHSC‐Shreveport) until after:
1.
An analysis is done of key decision roles within the system;
2.
A detailed job description and decision role document is developed for each leadership position;
3.
Greater input is obtained from faculty and professional staff of the LSU system academic medical centers and the communities greatly impacted by the reorganization of the medical centers.
Therefore, be it resolved that the position of Chancellor with direct report to LSU system
President be continued as it currently exists for LSUHSC‐Shreveport.
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400 Edwards St., Shreveport, LA 71101 318.677.2503